Ibrahim Maalouf – Trumpets of Michel Ange

We know that Ibrahim Maalouf is a storyteller, which is something we all know too well. He primarily tells stories through his music, but when live on stage, he’s also fond of grabbing the microphone to take the audience into his world of thoughts. On his latest album, various storylines come together, which calls for some explanation.

First and foremost, the new record is a tribute to trumpeter Nassim Maalouf, his father, and the man who poured his heart and soul into technically modifying the trumpet with a fourth valve to play quarter tones, which are prevalent in classical Arabic music. He developed the first version of this trumpet with the famous Selmer instrument factory in Paris. Incidentally, Maalouf Sr. wasn’t the only one experimenting with time signatures. In collaboration with instrument maker Holton, the American jazz trumpeter and ethnomusicologist Don Ellis had already been doing so in the 1960s. Nassim Maalouf wishes for many musicians to play this unique trumpet. With the project “Trumpets of Michel Ange” and the release of the eponymous new album, Ibrahim Maalouf aims to fulfil that dream.

Dedication

‘The nine new songs also tell the story of celebrating love, starting a family, and the things parents pass on to their children,’ says Maalouf about the new album. ‘The story follows the journey of two young lovers who start a family, celebrating their marriage, their dedication to each other, the birth of their children, and eventually letting go of those children as they grow up.’

Love and Joy

It’s mainly love and joy that burst into your living room as you listen to the tracks. It starts right away with “The Proposal,” a song born from a spontaneous jam session at Maalouf’s wedding. Then the sparks fly with “Love Anthem” and “Fly With Me,” while in “Zajal,” the trumpets rock under the lead of guitarist François Delporte, Maalouf’s long-time musical partner. Only with “Stranger,” dedicated to the eventful life and passion of his father Nassim Maalouf, is there a brief moment of reflection. But with “The Smile of Rita,” dedicated to Maalouf’s daughter, you’ll feel like dancing again. At the epic “Au Revoir,” we shed a tear, only to jump back up with “Capitals,” where Trombone Shorty joins in for a fun blast. The closer, “Timeless,” has a distinctly African flavor, inspired by the collaboration with Toumani and Sidiki Diabaté. Maalouf’s son Nael and father Nassim also make a surprising contribution to the final track.

Masterpiece

‘I named the album, the trumpet line – now developed with Antoine Courtois Instruments – and the new music academy we’re establishing, “Trumpets of Michel Ange,” in honour of my father,’ says Maalouf about the entire project. ‘When he first came to France from Lebanon, he found shelter and work in one of the oldest churches in Paris, where he also developed his ideas for crafting the quarter-tone trumpet. When I was younger, I often thought of him as a sort of Michelangelo, painting the Sistine Chapel. This instrument is his masterpiece, and I hope everyone can experience it.’ (8/10) (Mister I.B.E.)